.JPG) |
| The tree on the right is ash and on the left is mulberry. The mulberry has the ability to come back after severe pruning due to some “hidden buds” or what can call undifferentiated tissue that can regenerate new growth while the ash does not and will frequently severely die back. |
Q.
We have two fantex ash trees that are 15 years old. They are spreading out too
far. How far can we cut them back without killing them?
A.
The problem with ash is that it does not have much ability to come back from
cut limbs if you cut back too far and into larger wood. You should begin to structure
the tree fairly early and stay on top of it but if you let it go too long and
then cut it back you may have some problems.
The problem with ash is that it does not have much ability to come back from
cut limbs if you cut back too far and into larger wood. You should begin to structure
the tree fairly early and stay on top of it but if you let it go too long and
then cut it back you may have some problems.
You can cut it back to side branches
that are growing in a desirable direction but you cannot prune it back by what
we call heading cuts (stubbing it back) and hoping these dead end cuts will
resprout. You can cut back into second or maybe three year old wood (there are
still side buds remaining that can grow) but if you cut into a limb with no
buds present, it will probably die back to a major limb.
that are growing in a desirable direction but you cannot prune it back by what
we call heading cuts (stubbing it back) and hoping these dead end cuts will
resprout. You can cut back into second or maybe three year old wood (there are
still side buds remaining that can grow) but if you cut into a limb with no
buds present, it will probably die back to a major limb.
.JPG) |
| Thinning cut, removal of an entire limb, on a peach tree. |
So cut a branch to a crotch going in
the direction you want the limbs coming from that crotch to grow. If a limb is
a problem, remove the entire limb back to its source. Do not leave any stubs
(dead end cuts).
I hope this makes sense. I will put
on my blog a picture of a thinning cut made removing a larger limb.
on my blog a picture of a thinning cut made removing a larger limb.
What an excellent (albeit sad) illustration of how NOT to prune ash trees. I read your story in today's RJ and tracked you down here. My neighbor has not pruned his Fan Tex Ash tree in 16 years (about the same as in your story). Now he wants to! I will forward your story and blog post to him. Hope it helps.